Cameroon National Youth Council Participates in Smart City Follow-up Committee Meeting Convened by FEICOM

The Cameroon National Youth Council (CNYC) took part in the second session of the Smart City Follow-up Committee, convened by FEICOM within the framework of the Smart City initiative under the Urban Platform in Cameroon Project.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Philippe Camille Akoa, Director General of FEICOM, Grand Officer of the National Order of Valour and President of the National Association of Urban Stakeholders. It brought together institutional actors, technical partners, representatives of pilot municipalities and stakeholders involved in the development of digital solutions for more inclusive, responsive and data-driven urban governance in Cameroon.

The Cameroon National Youth Council was represented at the meeting by NDOH IDA PIH, who took part in the discussions on behalf of the youth constituency.

The Smart City initiative is being developed in partnership with FEICOM and other institutional actors, with the technical support of Expertise France, under the Urban Platform in Cameroon Project. The broader project is implemented by Expertise France in partnership with Cameroon’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, with funding support from the European Union.

A Project Designed to Bring Local Governance Closer to Citizens

At the heart of the meeting was the presentation and discussion of an innovative mobile application designed to improve the relationship between citizens and local authorities.

The application aims to simplify the flow of information from citizens to municipalities, improve the management of local public services and strengthen proximity dialogue between administrations and the population.

This means that citizens will not only receive information from their municipality, but will also be able to report problems, submit suggestions, participate in consultations and follow up on issues affecting their communities.

The application is expected to be piloted first in the municipalities of Dschang and Soa before a possible extension to other municipalities across Cameroon.

Why This Matters to Young People

For young people, this initiative is important because it creates a direct channel through which they can participate in the development of their communities.

Many young people experience local problems every day: poor waste disposal, blocked roads, lack of information on municipal projects, water and sanitation challenges, poor lighting, abandoned public spaces or limited opportunities to contribute ideas to local development.

Through the Smart City application, young people will be able to move from simply complaining informally to reporting issues through a structured platform that can be tracked by the municipality.

This is important because youth participation should not be limited to meetings, speeches or occasional consultations. Digital tools can give young people a more practical, continuous and visible role in shaping the cities and communities in which they live.

Waste Management as the First Priority

During the discussions, waste management was identified as the first priority theme for the pilot phase. This choice reflects the visible and urgent nature of waste-related challenges in many urban communities.

Through the application, citizens will be able to report waste-related problems such as illegal dumping sites, poor collection, sanitation concerns or other environmental issues. Reports may include descriptions, photos and geolocation details.

This priority is particularly relevant to young people. Youth associations, student groups, environmental clubs, volunteers and local youth councils can play a strong role in identifying waste hotspots, sensitizing communities, promoting clean-up initiatives and encouraging responsible civic behaviour.

The CNYC believes that young people should not only be seen as users of the application, but also as partners in mobilization, testing, feedback collection and community awareness.

A Step Towards Data-Driven Cities

The Smart City application is part of a wider vision of data-driven urban governance. This means that cities should be planned and managed based on reliable data, citizen feedback and real-time information from communities.

Beyond the mobile application, the Urban Platform in Cameroon Project also promotes digital tools related to municipal data, urban planning, infrastructure monitoring, mapping, project follow-up and collaborative financing.

This approach is important because the needs of citizens evolve over time. A road, market, drainage system, waste collection point or public facility may become a priority after a planning document has already been prepared. Citizen feedback therefore helps public authorities remain connected to the realities on the ground.

By involving citizens directly, the Smart City application can help municipalities better understand local problems, prioritize interventions and monitor the quality of public services.

From Citizen Feedback to Public Accountability

One of the important issues discussed during the meeting was the need to ensure that citizen reports are properly followed up.

If citizens submit complaints or reports without receiving feedback, the platform may create frustration instead of trust. For this reason, the effectiveness of the application will depend not only on technology, but also on the ability of municipalities to organize their internal services, assign responsibilities and respond within reasonable timeframes.

The application’s follow-up function is therefore essential. Citizens should be able to know whether their report has been received, whether it is being processed and what action has been taken.

For young people, this creates an opportunity to promote a new culture of civic accountability: one where citizens report problems responsibly, and authorities respond transparently.

Youth as Strategic Partners, Not Just Users

The participation of the Cameroon National Youth Council in this meeting reflects the importance of involving young people in digital transformation and local governance.

Young people are among the most active users of mobile technology. They are also present in schools, universities, neighbourhoods, associations, volunteer networks and community initiatives. This gives them a unique role in helping citizens understand and use the application.

The Youth Council can contribute in several ways:

• sensitizing young people and communities on the use of the application;
• supporting the testing phase in pilot municipalities;
• helping collect user feedback from young people;
• encouraging responsible reporting of community issues;
• mobilizing youth around waste management and environmental responsibility;
• supporting awareness campaigns on civic participation and digital citizenship.

This is why the CNYC maintains that youth should be considered as co-implementers and community mobilizers, not only as end-users of the platform.

Commitment of the Cameroon National Youth Council

The Cameroon National Youth Council commends FEICOM, Expertise France, the European Union, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the pilot municipalities of Dschang and Soa, and all institutional and technical stakeholders involved in the Smart City initiative and the Urban Platform in Cameroon Project.

The CNYC particularly welcomes the invitation extended to the Youth Council, as it demonstrates a growing recognition of the role young people can play in civic innovation, digital adoption and local development.

As the representative platform of young people in Cameroon, the CNYC remains available to support the process, especially in youth mobilization, citizen sensitization, feedback collection, environmental awareness and responsible use of digital civic tools.

Through its participation in this strategic meeting, represented by NDOH IDA PIH, the Cameroon National Youth Council reaffirms its commitment to promoting innovation, civic responsibility and meaningful youth contribution to the development of smarter, cleaner, greener and more inclusive cities in Cameroon.